Friday, October 8, 2010

Chocobo Costume Collection

Baby Chocobos                 




Fully Grown Chocobo         

 


Chocobos are creatures, first introduced in Final Fantasy II, that the characters mount and ride like a horse. This critter is a flightless bird that helps a player move around faster and defeat enemies with clawing and pecking attacks. The Chocobo's call is a "kweh" (kue) or when translated in English to a "warp."
For Halloween this year the Chocobo can be a perfect costume for gamers and Final Fantasy fans alike.
The items below are handmade by artists found on Etsy.com that can be pieced together for a Chocobo costume. Finding your costume piece by piece can be a fun way to put yourself into the Halloween mood as well as being an economical choice to purchase items you can wear casually after Halloween.
If this is just the right costume for you click on the links below the items that catch your attention to see the artist's shop.



Safir Hime

A hat that is the epitome of a Chocobo! Perfect for your Chocobo costume.
Keeping in mind that Halloween tends to be a tid bit chilly, this hat will keep your ears toasty warm making the night more enjoyable.

Vicious Cosmetics

Seeing as a Chocobo's feathers are golden yellow our flesh color eyelids just won't do. To become a Chocobo this mineral eye shadow will be a perfect tool for the transformation.
To create a believable effect of golden Chocobo feathers, this eyeshadow could also be dusted on various areas of the face giving off the appearance of a golden glow. Pair it up with lighter hues of yellow and a luminescent white for the highlights, apply the darker hues to the contours of your face and lighter tones on upraised areas of the face.

Example of upraised areas and contours of your face:

Facial Contours

Highlighting Areas

Danielle Mcallister

Going along with the yellow feathers, these earrings will bring the Chocobo look together.


Another version of feather earrings, they remind me of the baby Chocobo in Final Fantasy XIII, being all cute and fluffy.


Being as feathery as you can be is just what a bird is about. Here is a feather necklace to adorn your Chocobo neck.

If you are into making jewelry here is a charm to concoct your own necklace and earings.


A bird is only a bird if it has wings, weather it soars like an eagle or waddles like a penguin. So here are your Chocobo wings you can flap to help you run faster.

Reflections Byds

As was mentioned earlier, Halloween can be cold. Keep warm this year with this soft yellow glove and scarf set 

zOMGah

A Chocobo decal scarf to keep the blistering cold from getting to you. 


Hand knitted mittens that resemble Baby Chocobo wings.


An adorable yellow jumper for the body of your Chocobo outfit. After Halloween this one piece can be kept until summertime next year or warn through the winter with a long sleeve shirt and a pair of stockings or leggings underneath.


This bubble skirt looks like the bottom of a baby Chocobo, that condensed chubbiness that all babies seem to be born with, cute as can be. Again this can be worn after the Holidays are over for any occasion.


The Ruffles look like feathers on this dress.  
 

Although this dress is more of a sunshine yellow rather than a golden yellow, the pockets on the sides look like little wings. 


For a more formal Halloween party here is a fancier version of the ruffle dress. Although this is an elegant dress, it can easily be dressed down to fit your everyday attire.  


A baby doll dress that has that chick-a-dee shape that Chocobos have makes a darling addition to this costume.


A sweater for the cold chill and a cute one to keep wearing through the winter months to come.


A jacket that also has that Chocobo shape, is another way to stay warm.


These orange leggings have two purposes, practicality and looks. Pair them with orange stockings, like this picture shows, and you will surely stay warm. Seeing as the legs and feet of a Chocobo are orange, these make sense for this costume as well as having a charming appeal. They're great to keep around for the winter months as well. 

 Flats are always a comfortable shoe to wear especially if you plan on walking door to door for trick-or-treating or standing all night at a party. They are also a fashionable chose so your feet can find their way back in them soon after the Halloween festivities.


These slippers are the perfect image of Chocobo feet making them and ideal addition to this costume.

Trick-or-Treating requires something to carry your goods in, so heres a Chocobo bag to hold your candy while you gallivant around being a Chocobo yourself.


Although this bag is suppose to represent a chick-a-dee, baby Chocobos are almost the mirror image of a baby chick, so it works with your costume while holding your sweets.


Here is a simple but cute bag that stays out of the spotlight, allowing your costume to take center stage.


Heres a baby chick costume that can be interchangeably used as a Chocobo costume for little ones. This is a costume that will spike the adorable meter.


If you are looking to add a few handmade touches of your own, these feathers will serve you well. For your hair you can use these feathers to make your own head piece, hair clip, or head band. You can also apply these feathers with a specialized adhesive to your eyes like fake eyelashes. These can even be made into a tail to clip on to the back of your outfit, add an extension ribbon to either side of the tail to tie around your waist, or make an elastic band to stretch over your head to wear securely on your hips.

Have an exciting Halloween!

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Sunday, October 3, 2010

This is Halloween

October 31st was said to be the night the spirits of the dead would come back looking to possess the living according to Irish lore. Masks were warn to trick the spirits into believing that the disguised individuals were spirits themselves.  Trick or Treating originated from Hallomas, a holiday dating back as far as the 14th century. On October 31st, the night before All Saints Day (November 1st), the poor would go from door to door giving prayers to families and their lost one's souls in exchange for "soul cakes" or bread baked with currants. 
1911 was the first year American and Canadian children went from door to door singing for candy. Canada first used the phrase "Trick or Treating" in the year 1927 and in the 1930's the phrase was published nation wide.
Now Halloween is the second most celebrated holiday, Christmas being the first. The amount of money spent on buying candy has hit $2 million dollars a year.
In 2004 the average American "Trick or Treater" nom'd approximately 25 pounds of candy, mainly found to be consumed around Halloween.

Halloween has to be my favorite holiday, and to honor this ghoulish day these shops from Etsy.com bring you their handmade spook decor and accessories. If any of these items sends chills down your spine, click on the link below the screen to see more of the artist's artwork.

Have a Happy Halloween!









Friday, September 24, 2010

Marvelous Masquerades

Masquerades were formals attended in gowns and elaborate masks. Historical sitings of masks being worn in celebration has said to have gone as far back as the 13th century.
In the 15th century Masquerades were beginning to make a mark in colonial history. These balls were originally organized in celebration of marriage and other important ceremonies.
In the 16th century Italy held these costume balls, also known as Maschera and Venetian Carnivals, as public events for the upper class, the most spectacular of all were held in Venice. The fall of the Venetian Republic slowly did away with Venetian Carnivals. By the end of the 18th century masquerades disappeared completely. Even after the fall of the Venetian masquerades, Carlos de Beistegui threw one of the most commemorated balls of the 20th century held at Palazzo Labia in Venice on September 3, 1951. It was dubbed "the party of the century."
In the 17th and 18th century the balls commenced in mainland Europe.
Due to identity disclosure, death was inevitable in European masquerades. Although, fatality was unavoidable, it was a game for the guests to wear masks. The idea was to guess at the name behind the mask.
Today masquerades are still being held but in less formal attire.

Halloween being also known for masks and costumes make it a perfect time to dress as a Venetian beauty. Gather together a mask, hair embellishments, a gown, vintage style jewelry, decide on gloves or a bracelet, and a pair of flats or if you can handle it, wear a pair of high heels and there you have it, a Venetian costume. The best part of this costume is there is no need for any make-up, just a touch of lip color and a loose up-do, and you are ready for trick-or-treating or that Halloween bash. Remember, there is always room for variation to make your costume more comfortable. Some ideas include wearing a knee length dress instead of a floor length gown. As mentioned before, trade in flats for high heels if your feet can only take so much abuse. Aim for a Victorian style ensemble (lace, corset, elegant, etc.) and you will have a perfect costume.
Here are some masquerade costumes that I have pieced together from different shops on Etsy.  All these items are handmade by artists found on Etsy.com. These artists put a lot of time into what they love and the outcome are these beautiful creations. If something stands out, click on the link below the picture to go to the artist's shop.
Enjoy:

 An assembly of pure elegance, with silver tones, to enhance the object of beauty. This is a  costume that makes a lasting impression. A stunning dress with an open neck calls for an equally vivid necklace. Laced gloves are a great match for a sleeveless dress. And finally, a crystal comb to dress your up-do so at every angle, you are astonishing.










A melody to be worn, this costume is based off of the mask. The mask displays a sheet off music, to keep the theme, the violinist's dress seemed only appropriate. In the center of the mask sits a flower. To incorporate the jeweled bloom throughout the costume, the hair piece adorns pink flowers (pink also being another element found on the mask) as well as a dazzling bracelet. The dress being so elaborate, it seemed only suitable to include a more subtle, yet beautiful, necklace. A silver necklace also only seemed fit with the silver jewel in the center of the flower on the mask and the silver bracelet. 

 







A dark mysterious allure is achieved with the red and black theme found in this costume compilation. This mask speaks wisdom and beauty accompanies the wise. An intense dress of red and black material with a neckline meant to frame such a gorgeous necklace. With such astounding pieces, simplistic accessories of laced gloves and a sparkling black gemmed hair piece complete this costume. An alternate shorter dress, like this black dress, can be chosen to reach this same mystical beauty appeal.





Here is a more adorable costume, with a whimsical golden butterfly mask decorated with beads and gems. The breath taking gown keeps the golden color scheme as well as this fine set of jewelry. This comb of feathers and a small pearl adds the perfect soft touch to complete this delicate look.




Here is a collaboration of a modernized masquerade costume. An angelic like dress matched with a lovely creme laced mask sends off a simplistic charm. Delicate feathers and flowers adorn the hair bringing out the flowers on the mask. The arm warmers match the color of the mask and the crochet flower ties into the flower theme. With a unique crochet necklace the outfit is complete, a Venetian Goddess has arrived. Another thought to be thunk is whether you will wear pieces of a costume in the future. Spending money on a costume is more sensible if this is kept in consideration. The arm warmers and the dress can be worn numerous times from this arrangement and the necklace and hair piece kept for special occasions.